Nostalgia & History > SP in the 80s Part 4: SPSF "Kodachrome" paint

In late 1985, the SP prematurely started painting locomotives in the planned merger scheme of the "SPSF". SD45s 7551 and 7558 were among the earliest repaints. Alas, the merger was struck down by the Surface Transportation Board. Here are a few photos of freshly painted "Kodachrome" units.
Photo #1: SP 7551 leads Amtrak #6 at Pinole, Nov. 9, 1985
Photo #2 and 3: SP 7558 leads a "mixed bag" consist at Fremont, Ca. Dec.7, 1985
-- Eric Blasko

---

---

---

Nice shots! Those were colorful engines.
Thanks for sharing.
Todd Montgomery
Eugene OR

Photo #4: Freshly painted tunnel motors at the Sacramento shops, June 21, 1986.
-- Eric B.

---

AlcoRSD15 Wrote:

> In late 1985, the SP prematurely started painting
> locomotives in the planned merger scheme of the
> "SPSF". SD45s 7551 and 7558 were among the
> earliest repaints. Alas, the merger was struck
> down by the Surface Transportation Board.

It was the ICC back then; the "surf board" replaced it in 1996.

SP 7551 was the first SP repaint, and came out with white lettering, a four-stripe noseband painted slightly higher on the nose, and a lower black roofline than the standard scheme would eventually feature (Santa Fe's first, SD45 5394, also had these peculiarities). SP repainted the lettering to yellow, but left all the other unique features intact as your photo shows. The 7551 was still wearing that scheme when it was destroyed in a May 1989 runaway on Cajon Pass.

Photo 3 shows an amazing SP consist. In no particular order, SD45R, SD40T-2, SD45T-2, GE B-boat, GP9, SD9, and others. Impressive!

> Photo #2 and 3: SP 7558 leads a "mixed bag"
> consist at Fremont, Ca. Dec.7, 1985
> -- Eric Blasko

Eric, Do you have any more from this area? I spent many of my summer days waiting at the creek path that the train is 100 yards from crossing. I was there from 1985 to 1992 any day I could. Lots of Caddys and Geeps.

Rob Ireland
Fremont, Ca

Hi Rob,

Actually, that was the only time I have ever been to that park in Fremont. I have lots of other photos taken in Pinole and Oakland, some of which I will post.
-- Eric